US Warns Iran It Will Step Up Economic Pressure; Two More Ships Attacked in Hormuz
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron 151, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during the ongoing conflict with Iran, July 31, 2026. Photo: US Navy/Handout via…
Assessment
The US is escalating economic pressure on Iran while two additional ships have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, effectively halting transit through the critical waterway. A naval blockade may continue indefinitely. Talks to build on a June agreement have stalled, and a ceasefire that briefly held has collapsed, with Iran resuming attacks on vessels it accuses of attempting passage.